So, it took me a while to write this chapter since I spent like four days struggling to even get five-hundred words onto my document. In the end, I just decided to scrap my original plan for the chapter and decided to just skip to the next day instead, since I literally couldn't figure out what I wanted to write.
(I also had the Champions Meet along with life and school to worry about, so my mind wasn't in the creative mood.)
This chapter was not what I was planning at all, but I think it was honestly better than whatever the hell I was failing to cook before. This chapter won't feature the aftermath of the race in the previous chapter, that'll mostly be handled in the next chapter (hopefully).
I won't yap anymore, sorry for the long wait. I'll try not to take this long to write a chapter (no promises though since sometimes the ideas just don't show up sometimes).
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Kurofune could be seen sitting around the center of a mall. He was in some casual attire, wearing just a standard white shirt with some blue jeans. He had been waiting for quite a while, accidentally coming around 30 minutes prior to the agreed meetup time.
"Being early kind of sucks," Kurofune commented with his arms crossed. "I should've showed up late."
…
"Actually, nevermind. That girl would nag me to no end if I showed up late."
It's a bit weird that most people know her as the respectful honor student at school. Her true self couldn't be so much different from that. Not that her true personality was bad or anything, just…interesting.
"Oh, you're already here?" A familiar voice said.
When Kurofune looked up, he noticed that the voice came from none other than Scarlett. She wore a white blouse with a ruffled design around the chest area. Over the blouse, she wore a light purple skirt with a checker pattern. With the tiara that was always on her head, it made her look like some sort of princess.
"So, what did you call me to the mall for?" Kurofune almost immediately asked. "It's a bit of a weird place for a favor."
"I think it's a fitting place," Scarlett answered. "I've been needing an extra set of hands for a while, but I haven't had anybody I trust willing to help me out."
"..." Kurofune just stared at her silently for a moment.
"What? Why are you staring at me like that?"
Kurofune clapped his hands together and took a deep breath.
"You're telling me that you've done all of this just to get me to help you hold your bags while you shop?"
"Yeah?" Scarlett tilted her head. "Is that a problem?"
"Don't you think that's like, a waste of a favor?"
"A…waste?"
"Yeah," Kurofune nodded. "I was under the impression that you'd do something worse as payback for getting in your way. If you just needed someone to help you with shopping, all you had to do was ask nicely."
Scarlett was surprised, "Wait…really?"
"Though I'm not complaining that you used the favor I owed on this, it saves me the worry," Kurofune shrugged. "But let's just forget about that for now. What's the first place you want to check out?"
Scarlett began thinking, "Well, there was this popular store I've been hearing a lot about recently."
"You mean that store sponsored by that super famous fashion model?"
"Yeah, that one! You know about it?"
"Yeah, I've heard a lot of good things about it. Never really had a reason to check it out until now."
"Then what are we waiting for?" Scarlett enthusiastically asked as she grabbed Kurofune's wrist. "Let's go!"
Scarlett proceeded to drag Kurofune around the mall, stopping by stores that she found interesting. Much to her surprise, Kurofune even began suggesting stores that they could visit. Time flew by much faster than they expected as sundown arrived.
The two exit the mall holding countless shopping bags, most of them being held by Kurofune. The two didn't say anything to each other as they just silently walked down the city streets. Not being able to bear the silence any longer, Scarlett eventually spoke up.
"I appreciate you bearing with me for today," Scarlett suddenly thanked him.
"Where did this come from?" Kurofune asked. "You make it seem like being around you is a burden."
"It's not that. It's just…I don't know how to say it."
"Take your time," Kurofune reassured her. "It'll be a while before we…"
Kurofune suddenly stops walking, prompting Scarlett to do the same. His expression turned deathly serious as he could be seen looking ahead at something. When Scarlett looked to see what he was staring at, she noticed a group of around seven thugs looking right at them.
"Would you look at that, it's one of those cute Umamusume," one of the thugs creepily said.
"Hey boss, didn't you say that you'd love to have one of those?" Another one of the thugs said, this time addressing a tall man with dyed red hair and black sunglasses.
"I did say that a while ago, huh?" The Boss looked thoughtful as he touched the cigarette in his mouth for a moment before smiling. "I guess today's my lucky day."
"It looks like there's some baggage that'll need to be disposed of," a fourth thug spoke.
That last one seemed to be targeted at Kurofune.
"Look kid, I don't know if she's your girlfriend or not. I honestly don't care," The Boss addressed Kurofune. "If you want to ensure your safety, I suggest you just go run off to god knows where."
"And if I don't?" Kurofune stood his ground.
As soon as he says that, each of the thugs behind the boss man pull out pocket knives, making threatening gestures as the boss continues speaking.
"Then you'll get hurt, ya' hear? Simple as that," The Boss replied before turning to his group. "Take the girl along with whatever those two have in those bags. We could probably sell those to make off with a bit of cash, ya' hear."
"Yes, boss," the creepy guy from before smiled as he reached out a hand toward Scarlett, who stepped back in both repulsion and fear.
—CLAMP!
However, before the man's hand could reach her, it was grabbed by another.
"It's not nice to put your hands on a lady. Didn't somebody teach you manners."
"OW! OW! OW!" The thug yelped in pain as he felt his wrist get squeezed. "LET GO OF ME, YOU FUCKER!"
"Yeesh, and the foul language too," Kurofune frowned before pulling the man closer to him…
—BAM!
…using it as an opportunity to slam his foot into the man's privates.
—Thud!
The man dropped to the ground, knocked unconscious from the sheer pain alone.
Kurofune then turned to Scarlett.
"Hold onto the bags in your hand tightly and prepare yourself," Kurofune instructed. "We're stronger and faster than them due to our biology, so we should use that to our advantage."
"O-Okay!" Scarlett nodded.
"So the kid knocks out one of my men with cheap tricks and thinks he's the shit," The Boss commented. It was clear from the slight veins appearing on his forehead that he was feeling annoyed. "Do you seriously think the two of you can take us all down?"
"We go on my count," Kurofune ignored the boss, continuing to instruct Scarlett. "3…"
Scarlett's body tensed up, her fight or flight response kicking in.
"2…"
As he counted down, the Boss turned to the rest of his men.
"Prepare yourself, we don't know what dirty tricks he might pull."
[Yes, Boss!] They all nodded.
"1!"
—Swoosh!
Kurofune quickly turned around, grabbing Scarlett's wrist before booking it in the opposite direction.
"Run as fast as you fucking can!" Kurofune shouted.
"..."
[HE RAN!?] The group of thugs exclaimed in sheer astonishment.
The two Uma's could be seen swerving through a crowd of people at top speed. Or at least, the top speed one could have while holding a bunch of shopping bags.
"Why are we running?" Scarlett asked Kurofune as the two of them continued booking it. "I thought we were going to fight them off."
"Isn't it obvious!? They all have knives!" Kurofune shouted. "I'm not the main character, I know I'd end up dead or ingured if I tried to fight all of them."
"I didn't expect you to be so cowardly," Scarlett chuckled.
"I like to call it not being a dumbass, thank you," Kurofune replied. "Honestly, if I didn't have to worry about you, I would've booked it sooner."
"Oh? So I'm some baggage that's holding you back?"
"In this case, yes. Why the hell did you freeze up for a second there?"
"You suddenly get surrounded by seven grown men much bigger than you talking about you like you're some kind of prize for them to catch and you're telling me you wouldn't get scared?"
"That was a stupid question on my part," Kurofune admitted. "But still, while freezing up makes sense, it's also like the worst of the four potential responses."
"Wait, four? I thought there were only three?"
"There's a fourth response called fawn," Kurofune answered. "Didn't know about it until like a week ago. It's basically the act of trying to appease the threat to stop them from wanting to hurt you."
"Ohhh."
The previously tense atmosphere quickly dissipated, mainly due to them already losing the thugs just after a minute of running. When the two stopped running a few minutes later, Scarlett was surprised to see that they were in a familiar area.
"Wait, I know this place. Isn't it right next to the school?" Scarlett asked.
"Yeah, my apartment is on this street," Kurofune said.
"Isn't it kind of bad to run directly home when you have someone chasing you?"
"We lost them a while ago. If we kept running in some random direction, it would've taken us way too long to get back before the curfew."
"True, can't complain about that," Scarlett agreed. "Also, you can let me go now."
"...Oh right," Kurofune quickly let go of her wrist. "Sorry about that."
Scarlett stared at her wrist for a short moment, lost in thought. She then turned to face him.
"Hey…I know I already thanked you before, but thanks again. I'm not sure what I would've done in that situation if you weren't there."
"No problem," Kurofune smiled. "We're teammates after all. Just like how you said you would have my back, I'll have yours."
"..." Scarlett silently stared at him before looking away, muttering something to herself. "That sounded kind of cool…"
"You said something?" Kurofune asked, not hearing what she mouthed off to herself.
"Nothing," Scarlett shook her head. "Let's just drop some of these bags off at the dorm before it gets too late."
"Got it."
The two continue making their way towards the school, exchanging small talk with each other along the way. Today had been surprisingly fun for the two of them, even with the unfortunate encounter happening. Both of them felt like they had gotten a little closer with the other.
Although, they wouldn't mention that to the other's face, at least not today.